Officials at Barnstable Municipal Airport believe the regional airport can qualify for a Federal Aviation Administration grant program. They want permission to use $20,000 in reserves to put an application together.

Airport manager Quincy “Doc” Mosby said the airport would look to develop a plan for marketing, advertising and other promotion for the airport and its carriers.

The FAA grant program is intended to address air service and airfare issues at smaller airports. There is no limit on the amount of the grant award. The FAA has awarded one-time grants of up to $1.6 million under this program.

The airport would use the funds to hire a consultant to work with carriers and develop an application.

Eligible airports are those that are no larger than a small hub and that have “insufficient air service or unreasonably high airfares.”

Under the program, successful communities would be reimbursed for authorized expenses.

Applicants are dissuaded, though not precluded, from applying for capital improvements to airport facilities.

The request is part of a larger supplemental appropriation request to cover the increased cost of jet fuel and will be presented to the town council at this week’s meeting.

The increased wholesale cost of jet fuel has drawn down the airport’s budgeted amount for fuel purchases. The additional amount will be covered through eventual retail sales.